Anatomy

Just like any other part of the body, women’s vulvas come in all shapes and sizes. But they are hidden away and many people have never even seen their own. Labia (the lips or folds of skin that sit on either side of the vaginal opening) come in all shapes, sizes, colours and textures.

Pubic hair is the hair that grows around the genital and anal regions. It varies in colour, texture, length and thickness and often extends up the front or back or onto the thighs. Pubic hair provides protection and cushioning to your genitals, and transmits sensation. Some people choose to get rid of their pubic hair for fashion or cultural reasons.

At the top of the labia minora, there is a fold of skin called the clitoral hood. This connects to the tip of the clitoris. The clitoris actually extends internally and is full of nerve endings- 15,000 of them- and the tip of the clitoris is usually the most sensitive area on the vulva and is the only organ on the entire body that’s sole purpose is sexual arousal.

Women have two sets of labia: the labia majora (outer labia) and the labia minora (inner labia), which sit inside the outer labia. There are lots of other names for the labia minora. You might call them flaps or lips but, whatever you call them, the labia minora have a very important function. They protect the vagina and they’re also full of nerve endings that provide sensation and lubrication during sex.

The vagina is the passage between the uterus and the external genitals. It is only one part of the vulva, but many people don’t know that there’s a difference between them and mistakenly call the entire outside part of women’s genitals the vagina. The only part of the vagina that’s visible from the outside is the opening. Most of the vagina is actually on the inside and it leads all the way up to the cervix.